UCLA Basketball: Unpacking Summer League Run Of Ex-Bruin Guard
After the conclusion of the UCLA Bruins' 2022-2023 campaign, it was not super clear if Amari Bailey would either be returning for his sophomore season or entering the NBA Draft. Coming back to Westwood would give him the opportunity to sharpen up his skills, take on a bigger role within the offense and likely bolster his draft stock for next year. However, he chose to bet on himself and he ended up impressing a number of scouts in the draft combine en route to getting selected in the second round by the Charlotte Hornets.
Everything to love about Bailey's game gets put on full display whenever he hits the court. He is an ultra-athletic guard who can jump with the best of players in the league and whether he's trying to finish a dunk or go for a block, this always works in his favor. However, he also struggles to go right from time to time and his three-point shot still needs some work.
Nonetheless, he was still a huge part of the Hornets' summer league squad and with Brandon Miller, Nick Smith Jr. and James Bouknight missing numerous games, he stepped up and provided a spark on offense when they needed him most.
Bailey ended off his stint this summer with them by pouring in nine points and thee rebounds per game while shooting just over 40 percent from the field. He shows a ton of promise as a reserve guard and could very well get there soon. Charlotte is in no rush to have take on a ton of responsibilities this coming and the former Bruins star freshman will be joining an elite young core. We look forward to seeing him get comfortable in his upcoming rookie season!
